Description: The thallus of this species is much reduced, simply a green collar surrounding the large (to 5mm diam.), red-brown discs like a shallow cone. It sits on a bed of spongy-nodulose tissue (cephalodia) which protects the discs from compaction and fragmentation. It is a species of short calcareous turf by tracks and damp, long-abandoned stone quarry floors. In Ireland it is known from Counties Sligo and Wicklow but was formerly also present in County Antrim.

Key Identification Features:

• Spongy base of nodulose tissue from which the red-brown discs arise surrounded by a green cuff of thallus
• Short, damp calcareous turf, rabbit grazed or compacted by trampling or light vehicle use.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

Distribution Map from NBN: Solorina spongiosa at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Solorina spongiosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.